Is booktok destroying reading? The good, the bad & the ugly

Sweetest beans,

This topic is something I spent a lot of time thinking about. Is booktok helping the readers or is it ruining the reading experience? I came to a conclusion, which is a sort of a compromise. What is your opinion on the topic? I'd be more than happy to hear all about it.

Sincerely,
Milly

*Disclaimer - all TikTok videos shown here were randomly chosen for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please, no hate to the creators.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:34 Good sides of booktok
04:18 Bad sides of booktok
06:18 The ugly
09:14 Dilemmas?
10:57 The conclusion
12:19 The outro

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Find me here:
Instagram: @millytza__

TikTok: @millytza_

Twitter:

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Music:

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Video editor (desktop version):
CapCut

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#tiktok #booktok #books #booktube #reading

[axb]

your question of whether or not bad book have value is interesting. The problem I see is that if you only read bad books you have nothing to compare it to. I've read a handful of books being recommended on tiktok heavily. When they aren't toxic, the themes are so simplistic that I wonder how a grown woman can enjoy it. It also makes me feel like I am the problem or I'm negative. I'm glad more people are reading but I'm hoping that they'll push to read something a bit more sometimes

[rokinjaguar]

I really liked your point on how focusing on aesthetics can be good bc it is a way to appreciate the small things and be present in the moment, that’s a lovely way to view it and I think true in many cases! I’ll definitely be thinking about this!

I am not on tiktok myself but I find the discourse interesting. This was a balanced, well-done video :)

[riddhishrivastava]

Lovely video! Many of my friends definitely started reading after getting inspired by booktok. It's really great to finally have someone to share this experience with :)
Edit: The CoHo hype on booktok is crazy and its legitimately scary. Why people love her, I'll never understand

[emi]

The thing that tends to get left out of the "booktok ruining reading" is that reading has always held a contradicting perspective. Classism, what are the "right" books to read, how to read books, if it is smart or nerdy etc. These have always been an issue since the dawn of time. That's why Jane Austin and others are so interesting. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in the drawing room debate what makes a good woman to marry and reading is listed but not books that Mary reads, those require too much thought, the horror! (haha). I agree that Tiktok leads to more consumerism, aesthetics, and a narrow recommendation window at times but I would argue this is more due to algorithms. What is trending is how people get views and make money so they will jump into the trend for that reason alone. However, when you give it enough time or break the algorithm bubble, you can find great deep discussions about a book/topic and the amazing #librarylovers out there.

Tldr: This was a long rant but basically I want to bring forward that reading has always been stigmatized so it is interesting to see it open up to the world in a different form. Aesthetics can be bad but they can also be an art form. It is so hard to know how tiktok will effect us in the future with this heavily gray area of society

Edit: I listed the wrong Bennet sister LOL

[chsrryhee]

This is the video on the subject of Booktok which I agree the most. I really like what you said in the dilemmas part

[notequalto]

I've been kind of surprised how I don't get a lot of hate for what I read. It's mainly horror and romance. But for the romance, it's VERY smutty (maybe I just like intense emotions???). Anyways, I don't try to hide the smuttiness of the books to my friends or other people at all. Maybe it's the confidence. Maybe other people have some secret desires to read smutty romance 😉

[ghrochi]

I was never a fiction guy, but booktok helped find fiction books that interest me. I think it helped me personally. Before it was all Non Fiction.

[MysticDivinerLJ]

I really like this video! I’m going to subscribe!

Feedback: I have ADHD (we’re not the same so someone else may have a different perspective) and I found the music a bit distracting. Maybe next time it could be a bit a lower so your words aren’t drowning out and it can be clearer.

[ChemicalPenguinn]

As someone who makes their own bookish content, I always enjoy discussion videos like these

[lizbennington]

Hi, thank you for discussing this topic, as I think it's really important. :) Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the background music is a little too loud in comparison to your voice.

[yarbi]

This is a great video analysing the horrors and the goods of booktok

[veracalvin]

I just do not understand this trend of playing repetitive music behind someone talking. Is listening to what is being said not enough? I don't think youtubers know how irritating this is.

[RPGDruid]

Honestly I wouldn't know. I haven't ever been on that data collecting spy website. :P There really isn't anything interesting about that style of content for me. Best not to further lead the next gen astray.